The Review

Editor’s Summary

Essentially, The League exists to solve one of the biggest problems of online dating, which is that anybody can do it. Let’s face it: the democracy of online dating is great, but it also means that sites like Tinder are kind of a zoo. You’ll find fake profiles, incomplete profiles, and a lot of other low-quality matches of various descriptions. This means that, while browsing online dating is often fun, it can also be depressing, and you can spend hours leafing through people you have no interest in. Enter the League, which is essentially the elite version of Tinder -- a dating app limited to those judged to be among the most eligible people by the app’s moderators. Depending on your perspective, this could either strike you as offensive, or highly refreshing.

What comes first is the screening process. Given the nature of the site, this process is obviously somewhat more rigorous than what you’d find on other dating services. It involves submitting your Facebook and LinkedIn credentials, as well as uploading six photos of yourself (you must have six, to give a good idea of what you actually look like, rather than what you look like in your most flattering photos). It’s a bit of a hassle, but it’s unavoidable, given the nature of the app. There are some upsides to the hassle, though. First of all, it ensures that there are no fake profiles on the site. Secondly, the League automatically excludes your Facebook friends and professional contacts -- you won’t have any awkward run-ins with people you already know.

The guidelines for screening are a bit mysterious. It’s been implied in statements by The League’s founder that there are a few factors included, namely attractiveness, interestingness, and professional success. So, if you’re a hot mountain climber who’s traveled the world, but you don’t have much money, you’ll probably be okay. And if you’re a self-made millionaire who’s not necessarily the most photogenic person in the world, you could maybe make it on the site as well.

However, these aren’t definitive statements by any means, because The League’s approval process is done by humans, which means it can be both slow and mysterious. It can take weeks, or days, or months, and you won’t necessarily know why exactly you were accepted or rejected -- you don’t get a report on your profile, or anything like that. And the only way to hijack this process and get your profile reviewed quickly is to pay a membership fee upfront, which is non-refundable. That’s right: you have to pay upfront for the privilege of applying to The League in an expedited fashion, and you can’t get your money back if they decide you’re not good enough.

If you do make it, though, the app is quite pleasant to use. The interface is remarkably similar to other phone-based dating services like Tinder, and the layout and typography are elegant and thoughtful. It’s nice to look at and navigate, and you’ll know how to use it from the minute you log on. One crucial difference in terms of the browsing, however, is that you only see three potential prospects a day. (These numbers go up to five and two, respectively, if you buy a membership.) This is intended to make the selection process more thoughtful: The League doesn’t want you to just flip through a bunch of people. It wants you to carefully consider everyone in its small pool of users -- who do, in fact, tend towards the upwardly mobile and conventionally attractive. You can increase your chances of getting matched by paying $7 for a temporary boost to your profile’s visibility.

One thing that sets The League apart, besides its elitist nature, is its concierge service. In your friends list, you have access to “the concierge,” a real-life user who can help you out with tips about how to browse the site and optimize your profile. This is unique among the top dating services, and contributes considerably to The League’s mission of being a more intelligent dating site.

Overall, The League is worth a look, if you’re not frustrated by the possibility of being denied the chance to use it.

IN-DEPTH

Sign-Up Process

You can’t just sign up -- you have to be screened and approved to use the site. This process involves letting The League look at your Facebook and LinkedIn profiles, along with six photos. Once you do this, you’re on a wait list of to-be-approved users, which can take weeks or months, after which you’ll be accepted or denied. This process can be sped up with the acquisition of a paid membership.

Members/Interactions

The app’s messaging interface looks exactly like that of most other dating services of its type. The members tend to be wealthier and more photogenic than average, as the site’s premise promises.

Key Features

Safety & Security

The League is refreshingly straightforward in terms of its privacy policy. The app’s website makes no effort to conceal the fact that they collect your data, and use it in aggregate (presumably for commercial purposes). The security policy, however, is vague and unpromising: they say that they “take steps” to ensure user security, but make sure to mention that “the Internet cannot be guaranteed to be 100% secure.“ For more information, see the privacy policy page.

Noteworthy

The app actually hosts mixers and events, in case those who pass through the screening process feel that they need some real-life fun in addition to what the app offers.

Main Competitors

Screenshots

Pricing

Total Price Per Option

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